Brake-beam



(No Model.)

W. A. PUNGS. BRAKE BEAM.

No. 606,298. Patented June 28, 1898.

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NIED STATES ATENT FFICE.

WVILIJIAM A. PUNGS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BRAKE-BEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,298, dated June 28, 1898. Application filed September 20,1897. $e1ia1 No- 652,275. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PUNGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of a central swivel portion free to turn without adjusting the strut; second, in the construction of that extensible strut and its combination with the brake-levers supported therein, so as to act as a lock for the adjusting means for extending the strut; third, in the construction of the support for the ends of the truss-rod, and, further, in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described and shown.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a brake-beam embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a little more than half thereof, being partially broken away to illustrate the construction of the strut and the brake-heads. Fig. 3 is a section through an extensible strut of slightlymodified form.

A is the compression member of the beam. This I have shown of what I consider a desirable cross-section, comprising a central an glebeam portion a and vertical flanges b at the edges thereof. At the end of the compression member are the brake-heads B, which may be of any known or usual construction and are usually adapted to receive the brake-shoes. These brake-heads are preferably socketed, so that the end of the compression member A will fit therein.

0 is the truss-rod. This truss-rod is preferably provided with the heads D at the ends formed integral with the rod itself. It may, however, be provided with screw-threads and nuts in place of these heads, as is customary in such truss-rods.

The brake-head is preferably provided with entering slots E for the truss-rods and sockets F, in which the head or nuts engage.

In case the truss-rod is provided with an integral head it is not necessary that the socket should be provided if means are present to prevent the disengagement of the rod or its head when the strain is put thereon or while it is in use. If nuts are used, then the socket has a double function of holding the truss-rod against displacement and of holding the nuts from turning Ofcourse in this case a single lock or shoulder would thus hold the nuts as well as the'socket in which the nut engages.

The parts thus far described being assembled to tension the truss-rod I use asuitable strut G, which draws the parts tightly into the proper positions and gives the neces sary tension to the truss-rod, and, if desired, the necessary camber to the compression member. The form of this extensible strut may be varied to suit the manufacturer or the exigencies of the business. I have shown in the drawings two constructions, the preferred construction being that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the strut comprises a block H on the compression member, a block I bearing againt the truss-rod, and an intermediate turnbuckle J having pins K at the ends engaging interiorly-screw-threaded sockets in the two blocks with right and left hand threads, so that by turning the turnbuckle J the tension will be increased or diminished, as desired. 7

The turnbuckle is provided with a bearing for the brake-lever L. This I have shown as formed by means of an aperture M through cline either to the right or left, and, second,

and most important, when the brake-lever is in position for use the turnbuckle cannot be moved, and therefore the tension of the beam cannot be changed. Thus the brakelever acts, in effect, as a lock for the, adjusting means of the strut. In Fig. 3 I have shown the two socketed blocks II and I and the turnbuckle J; but in this case the sockets in the blocks and the pins in the turnbuckle are plain and not screw-threaded, the turnbuckle in this case not forming the adjusting means. The adjusting means in this construction are formed by means of the sleeve 0 engaging an exterior screw-thread on the socket H.

P is a lock-nut for locking the parts in their adjusted position.

WVhat I claim as my invention is- 1. In a brake-beam, a strut comprising heads bearing 011 the compression and tension members respectively, adjusting means on one of said heads to adjust the length of the strut and a rocking support for the brakelever swiveled between the heads, the turning of Which does not adjust the strut.

2. In a brake-beam, a strut comprising heads bearing on the compression and tension members respectively and an intermediate adjusting means for adjusting the length of the strut, consisting of a collar screw-threaded on one of the heads and a central portion swiveled between these heads carrying the brake-lever.

engaging in said socketed heads and a slot M, in which the brake-lever is pivoted.

4:. In a brake-beam, the combination of the compression member, a truss-rod, heads or nuts on the ends of the truss-rod, the brakeheads having sockets into which the heads or nuts are drawn and entering slots extending from the middle of the face portion of the brake-head to the sockets for the truss-rod to be passed through and an extensible strut by means of Which the truss-rod is tensioned.

5. In a brake-beam, the combination of the compression member, a truss-rod having end heads or nuts, brake-heads having entering slots for the truss-rod and sockets for the heads the base of said sockets being arranged at an angle to the brake-heads so as to be at substantially right angles with the truss-rod when tensioned and an extensible strut.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. PUNGS.

WVitnesses: v

OTTO F. BARTHEL, M. B. ODOGHERTY. 

